Groves, Harvey make impact for Jaguars

Top two picks from last year combine to knock QB Schaub from game

WILL DICKEY/The Times-UnionTexans backup quarterback Rex Grossman (5) fires a pass against the Jaguars Sunday. The former Gators quarterback took over for Houston temporarily after starter Matt Schaub suffered a shoulder injury.

WILL DICKEY/The Times-UnionTexans quarterback Matt Schaub leaves the field after being sacked by Jaguars defensive end Derrick Harvey on Sunday in Jacksonville’s 23-18 victory. Schaub suffered a shoulder injury, but returned in the second quarter.

When defensive end Quentin Groves was studying film last week, he noticed that the Texans left tackle Duane Brown was tipping the plays.

When Brown moved his leg back, it was going to be a pass. When he spread them, it was going to be a run.

So Groves, who got the starting nod at right end after being benched twice and overlooked once, knew the first play was going to be a pass when Brown moved his foot back.

He got a big rush on quarterback Matt Schaub, but missed him.

“I played the cut block and the DBs did a great job of extending the play, so it worked out for the best,’’ he said.

It worked out because it resulted in the Jaguars’ league-low 11th sack of the season, though Groves didn’t get it. And it knocked out Schaub for four series.

“I missed the lay-up,’’ Groves said. “I had the sack and I reached for him and missed him.’’

It turned out to be a good miss because Schaub moved towards Derrick Harvey, who knocked him to the ground while trying to strip the ball.

Schaub fell on his shoulder and missed four series.

Rex Grossman, who hadn’t thrown a rpass all season, came in and was ineffective. The Texans fell behind 17-0 before Schaub came back. Though the Texans outscored the Jaguars 18-6 the rest of the way, they couldn’t overcome the early deficit.

It was satisfying for Harvey and Groves to combine on a key play because the Jaguars traded up to draft them in the first two rounds a year ago. But they’ve had trouble getting in a groove.

“Me and Harv always talk,’’ Groves said. “We really don’t let anybody between us so that’s what we do. We approach our work the same and let the chips fall where we may. All we can control is how hard we play.’’

The Jaguars had one other sack by Justin Durant to boost their season total to 12.

But Groves, who had two tackles and a quarterback hit during the game and also had a big rush that help foil a two-point conversion attempt, said he thinks the pass rush is improving.

“We just need to keep getting better, keep watching film, keep looking at things we need to look at,’’ he said. “The sacks are going to come. People put all the praise into sacks, but if you hit the guy or you knock the guy off the spot, you extend the play, we hit him a lot and those things take a toll on you,’’ he said.

Harvey said his confidence is growing.

“Every game, we’re taking it step by step and getting better every week,’’ he said.

Harvey said he’s not frustrated by his lack of sacks.

“I’m not worried about that. There’s more to the game than sacks. Stopping the run and running around making plays,’’ he said.

Groves said he wasn’t frustrated when benched twice and passed over last week for rookie Julius Williams before replacing Williams in the second half against San Francisco. Williams was inactive on Sunday with a knee injury.

“There’s no reason to get frustrated because you’re still playing a game you love to play. Every day, I come in, I have a smile on my face, I’m living a dream,’’ Groves said.

“Who knows what the future holds. Right now, we’re living in the moment. We’re playing pretty good football right now. We just have to keep getting better week in and week out, day in and day out,’’ Groves said.